It Depends on How... (-기 나름이다)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -기 나름이다 to express that the outcome of a situation depends entirely on how an action is performed.
- Attach -기 to the verb stem: 먹다 → 먹기.
- Follow with 나름이다: 먹기 나름이다.
- Use it to emphasize personal agency or perspective in results.
Overview
At the advanced stages of learning Korean, moving beyond simple conditional statements is crucial for expressing complex thought. The C1-level pattern -기 나름이다 is a cornerstone of this advanced nuance, allowing you to articulate that an outcome is not predetermined but is contingent upon the manner, quality, or perspective associated with an action or state. It translates roughly to "it depends on how one does (verb)" or "it depends on the (noun)."
This grammar is more than a simple conditional; it carries a philosophical weight, often emphasizing personal agency, subjectivity, and the power of one's approach. While a simple -(으)면 clause states that if condition A is met, result B will occur, -기 나름이다 suggests that the nature of result B is directly shaped by how A is performed. For example, 행복은 마음먹기 나름이다 (Happiness depends on how you set your mind) implies that happiness isn't an external event but an internal state you cultivate.
Mastering this pattern allows you to express sophisticated ideas about causality and responsibility, making your Korean sound more reflective, mature, and natural.
How This Grammar Works
-기 나름이다 fully, you must deconstruct its components. The pattern is a fusion of a nominalized verb, a bound noun, and the copula.- 1The Verb and
-기: The suffix-기is a nominalizer. It attaches to a verb stem to turn an action (like하다, to do) into a concept or an activity (like하기, the act of doing). This is the foundation of the pattern, allowing you to discuss an action as a noun-like idea.
- 1The Bound Noun
나름: The key to this entire expression is나름. This is a bound noun (의존 명사), meaning it cannot be used alone and must be attached to or follow another word.나름carries the intrinsic meaning of "its own kind," "in its own way," or "depending on the specific entity." When you say사람 나름, you mean "depending on the person." When attached to a nominalized verb (-기), it signifies that the outcome depends on the specific way that action is carried out.
- 1The Copula
이다: The pattern concludes with the copula이다("to be"). This verb equates the preceding phrase with the state of being described. Thus, the structure[Action]-기 나름이다literally translates to "It is a matter of depending on how one does [Action]."
문제를 풀면 성공할 수 있다.(If you solve the problem, you can succeed.) This is a direct, almost transactional condition.성공은 문제를 어떻게 풀기 나름이다.(Success depends on how you solve the problem.) This is a more profound statement. It implies that multiple methods of solving the problem exist, and the quality of your method—your creativity, efficiency, or thoroughness—is what truly determines success. The focus shifts from the event of solving to the process and quality of solving.
Formation Pattern
-기 directly to the verb stem, followed by 나름이다.
-기 나름이다
생각하기 나름이다 | It depends on how one thinks. |
노력하기 나름이다 | It depends on how one puts in effort. |
쓰기 나름이다 | It depends on how one uses it. |
만들기 나름이다 | It depends on how one makes it. |
나름이다 directly to the noun. This is common for indicating that something varies from person to person, place to place, etc.
나름이다
사람 나름이다 | It depends on the person. |
장소 나름이다 | It depends on the place. |
회사 나름이다 | It depends on the company. |
-기 나름이다 must be conjugated according to the desired politeness level.
-기 나름입니다 | Formal (합니다체) | Presentations, reports, formal interviews. |
-기 나름이에요 | Polite (해요체) | Everyday conversations with colleagues, acquaintances. |
-기 나름이다 | Plain (이다체) | Written text (articles, books), diaries, self-monologue. |
-기 나름이야 | Casual (해체) | Conversations with close friends, family. |
-기 나름이지(요) | Conversational | Used to state something as a gentle, obvious truth. |
결과는 우리가 어떻게 행동하기 나름입니다. (The result depends on how we act.)
모든 것은 마음먹기 나름이에요. (Everything depends on how you set your mind.)
그건 너 하기 나름이야. (That depends on what you do / how you do it.)
When To Use It
- 1To Emphasize Personal Agency and Effort: Use
-기 나름이다when you want to assert that the outcome is not passive but is actively shaped by an individual's actions. It often carries a motivational or encouraging tone.
성공은 얼마나 노력하기 나름이겠어요.(Success will naturally depend on how much effort you put in.)좋은 리더가 되는 것은 부하들을 어떻게 대하기 나름입니다.(Becoming a good leader depends on how you treat your subordinates.)
- 1To Highlight Subjectivity and Perspective: This is one of the most common uses. The pattern is perfect for stating that the perception of a situation or its value is not objective but depends on one's point of view.
그 경험이 약이 될지 독이 될지는 생각하기 나름이다.(Whether that experience becomes a medicine or a poison depends on how you think about it.)어려운 일도 즐겁게 할 수 있는지 없는지는 마음먹기 나름이에요.(Whether you can do a difficult job enjoyably or not depends on your mindset.)
- 1To Give Nuanced Advice or State a Proverbial Truth: The pattern lends a sense of wisdom to a statement, making it suitable for giving advice that requires reflection rather than a simple instruction.
관계의 유지는 서로 얼마나 소통하기 나름이야.(Maintaining a relationship depends on how much you communicate with each other.)말 한마디로 천 냥 빚을 갚는다는 말처럼, 세상사는 말하기 나름이다.(Like the saying 'a single word can repay a huge debt,' life depends on how you speak.)
- 1To Explain Variability in Quality or Longevity: When discussing products, tools, or skills,
-기 나름이다explains that their value or lifespan is determined by the user.
비싼 물건이라도 어떻게 쓰기 나름이지요.(Even an expensive item's worth depends on how you use it.)이 소프트웨어는 기능이 많아서 활용하기 나름이에요.(This software has many features, so its utility depends on how you take advantage of them.)
Common Mistakes
- Mistake 1: Omitting
-기with Verbs.
나름이다 directly to a verb stem. This is grammatically incorrect because 나름 is a noun and requires a preceding noun or nominalized phrase.- Incorrect:
모든 건 생각하다 나름이다. - Correct:
모든 건 생각하기 나름이다.(Everything depends on how you think.)
- Mistake 2: Using it for Purely External, Uncontrollable Conditions.
-기 나름이다 implies that the manner or quality of an action influences the outcome. For external factors where there is no 'manner' to control (like the weather or a fixed test score), using -에 달려 있다 is far more natural.- Awkward:
내일 경기는 날씨 나름이다.(This sounds like the 'way' the weather behaves will determine the game's outcome.) - Natural:
내일 경기는 날씨에 달려 있다.(The game tomorrow depends on the weather.) The weather is a single, decisive factor.
- Mistake 3: Incorrect Tense Application, Especially Past Tense.
-기 나름이다 is overwhelmingly used in the present tense to state a general truth or a current dependency. The past tense form, ~기 나름이었다, is very rare and often sounds unnatural. To describe a past outcome that was dependent on a certain action, it is better to rephrase the sentence.- Unnatural:
그 프로젝트의 성공은 우리가 노력하기 나름이었다. - Natural:
그 프로젝트의 성공은 우리의 노력에 달려 있었다.(The success of that project depended on our effort.) - Natural:
우리가 어떻게 노력했는지에 따라 그 프로젝트의 성공이 결정되었다.(The success of that project was determined by how we made an effort.)
- Mistake 4: Confusing with
~기 마련이다.
-기 나름이다 expresses variability (it depends), while -기 마련이다 expresses inevitability (it's bound to happen). Confusing them fundamentally changes your meaning.사람은 실수하기 나름이다.(It depends on the person whether they make a mistake or not. - This is an odd statement.)사람은 실수하기 마련이다.(People are bound to make mistakes. - This is a natural and common expression.)
Real Conversations
Scenario 1
팀장 (Team Lead): 이번 분기 실적이 목표에 미달했는데, 다음 분기는 괜찮을까요?
(This quarter's performance didn't meet the target. Do you think next quarter will be okay?)
대리 (Assistant Manager): 다음 분기 실적은 우리가 어떻게 전략을 세우고 실행하기 나름이라고 생각합니다. 지금부터 잘 준비하면 충분히 만회할 수 있습니다.
(I believe next quarter's performance depends on how we build and execute our strategy. If we prepare well from now, we can certainly make up for it.)
Scenario 2
지민
이 수업 너무 어려워서 F만 안 받으면 좋겠어.(This class is so hard, I just hope I don't get an F.)
수현
학점이야 공부하기 나름이지. 교재만 보지 말고 교수님 추천 논문도 좀 찾아봐.(A grade depends on how you study. Don't just look at the textbook; try to find some of the papers the professor recommended.)
Scenario 3
친구 1 (Friend 1): 남자친구랑 요즘 자꾸 싸워. 헤어져야 하나 봐.
(I keep fighting with my boyfriend these days. Maybe we should break up.)
친구 2 (Friend 2): 어떤 관계든 위기는 오잖아. 극복하고 못하고는 서로 노력하기 나름이야.
(Every relationship has crises. Overcoming it or not depends on how much effort you both put in.)
Quick FAQ
-기 나름이다 and -에 달려 있다?This is a critical distinction for advanced learners. The choice depends on where you place the focus of the dependency.
-기 나름이다 | -는지에 따라 다르다 / -에 달려 있다 |-기) or a general noun (사람). | Follows a noun (-에) or a 는지 clause. |행복은 생각하기 나름이다. (Happiness depends on how you think.) | 합격은 시험 점수에 달려 있다. (Passing depends on the test score.) |합격은 시험 점수 나름이다. (Awkward: implies the style of the score matters.) | 행복은 생각에 달려 있다. (Grammatical, but less nuanced than -기 나름이다.) |어떻게 with this pattern?Yes, it is extremely common and natural. Using 어떻게 (how) explicitly reinforces the core meaning of the pattern. 어떻게 ...-기 나름이다 is a very standard construction.
- Example:
상황이 좋아질지는 우리가 어떻게 대처하기 나름이다.(Whether the situation will improve depends on how we deal with it.)
While it is predominantly a sentence-ending pattern, it can be embedded in other structures by modifying the 이다 copula. The most common forms are -기 나름인 것 같다 (it seems to depend on...), or when quoting the idea, as in ...는 ...-기 나름이라는 말이 있다 (there is a saying that...).
- Example:
결국 모든 것은 자기가 하기 나름인 것 같아요.(In the end, it seems everything depends on how you do it yourself.)
You nominalize the negative verb form using either 안 [Verb]기 or [Verb]-지 않기. This usage can sometimes carry a sarcastic or cautionary tone.
- Example:
성공하지 못하는 것은 노력하지 않기 나름이다.(Failing to succeed depends on not trying.)
Formation Table
| Verb | Stem | Noun Form | Full Phrase |
|---|---|---|---|
|
하다
|
하
|
하기
|
하기 나름이다
|
|
먹다
|
먹
|
먹기
|
먹기 나름이다
|
|
보다
|
보
|
보기
|
보기 나름이다
|
|
듣다
|
듣
|
듣기
|
듣기 나름이다
|
|
읽다
|
읽
|
읽기
|
읽기 나름이다
|
|
쓰다
|
쓰
|
쓰기
|
쓰기 나름이다
|
Meanings
This structure indicates that the outcome or state of something is contingent upon the manner in which an action is carried out.
Conditional Outcome
The result is determined by the specific way the action is done.
“하기 나름이에요.”
“생각하기 나름입니다.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
V-기 나름이다
|
하기 나름이다
|
|
Formal
|
V-기 나름입니다
|
하기 나름입니다
|
|
Informal
|
V-기 나름이야
|
하기 나름이야
|
|
Past (contextual)
|
V-기 나름이었다
|
하기 나름이었다
|
|
Modifier
|
V-기 나름인
|
하기 나름인 결과
|
Formality Spectrum
하기 나름입니다. (General advice)
하기 나름이에요. (General advice)
하기 나름이야. (General advice)
하기 나름이지 뭐. (General advice)
The Logic of -기 나름이다
Input
- Method How you do it
Examples by Level
하기 나름이에요.
It depends on how you do it.
생각하기 나름이에요.
It depends on how you think about it.
공부하기 나름이라서 열심히 해야 해요.
It depends on how you study, so you must work hard.
성공은 노력하기 나름이라는 말이 있어요.
There is a saying that success depends on how you work.
인생은 마음먹기 나름이라는 사실을 깨달았다.
I realized the fact that life depends on how you set your mind.
그의 평가는 그가 일하기 나름일 것이다.
His evaluation will depend on how he works.
Easily Confused
Both express dependency.
Common Mistakes
하다 나름이다
하기 나름이다
좋은 나름이다
좋게 하기 나름이다
하기에 나름이다
하기 나름이다
하기 나름인 것 같다
하기 나름이다
Sentence Patterns
___ 나름이에요.
Real World Usage
다 하기 나름이야!
Mindset
Smart Tips
Use -기 나름이다 to empower the listener.
Pronunciation
Linking
The 'g' sound in -기 links smoothly to 'n' in 나름.
Falling
하기 나름↘이다
Assertive conclusion
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'Nari' (a person) who always says 'It depends on how you do it!'
Visual Association
Imagine a scale. On one side is the action, on the other is the result. The 'how' is the pivot point.
Rhyme
Doing it well, or doing it bad, it's -기 나름, don't be sad.
Story
Min-su was worried about his test. His teacher told him, 'Studying is -기 나름이다.' He realized his method mattered more than his talent. He changed his method and passed.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today using -기 나름이다 about your daily tasks.
Cultural Notes
This reflects the cultural value of personal effort and mindset.
Derived from '나름' (one's own way) + '이다' (to be).
Conversation Starters
시험 결과가 걱정돼요.
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
인생은 ___ 나름이다.
Score: /1
Practice Exercises
1 exercises인생은 ___ 나름이다.
Score: /1
Practice Bank
10 exercises성공은 본인이 ______ 나름이다.
사용자 / 나름 / 이에요 / 그건
It depends on how you say it.
Which sentence would you use in a business presentation?
요리는 어떻게 요리하 나름이에요.
Match the following:
말 한마디로 천 냥 빚도 갚는다는 것은 어떻게 ______ 나름이라는 뜻이다.
Choose the most 'subjective' dependency.
협력하기 / 우리 / 나름 / 입니다 / 어떻게
A tool depends on its user.
Score: /10
FAQ (1)
No, you must turn them into adverbs or use a verb like '생각하기'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
〜次第だ
Japanese uses a specific noun 'shidai'.
Depende de...
Korean is noun-based.
Es kommt darauf an
Structure is entirely different.
Cela dépend
Korean is more concise.
看...怎么做
Korean is a suffix construction.
يعتمد على
Korean is more idiomatic.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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